Flat panel display and stand with vertical adjustment and tilt adjustment

Abstract

A display assembly that includes a flat panel display and a display stand. A hinge that attaches to the housing of the display provides for tilt adjustment. The display stand includes two rails that attach to a base and a sliding frame that is coupled to the hinge. The two rails support the sliding frame such that the sliding frame can move up and down along the two rails. A rotary dampener dampens downward movement of the sliding frame. The display stand also includes a latching mechanism that selectively latches the sliding frame to one of the rails. The latching mechanism includes a handle that can be manually operated so as to selectively engage and disengage the latching mechanism. Movement of the handle of the latching mechanism releases the latching mechanism. The display can then be moved up or down as desired to accommodate the needs of a particular user. Once the display is positioned as desired, the release of the handle operates to engage the latching mechanism. The display assembly of the present invention allows for maximum utility of desk space, has a limited footprint, and is easily adjustable. Also, the flat panel display may be mounted to structures using a mounting plate, and can be mounted to structures such as adjustable arms, walls, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A display assembly comprising: a first rail, disposed vertically;   a base coupled to said first rail for supporting said first rail;   a sliding frame disposed around said first rail and having a rack disposed thereon that extends vertically, said sliding frame for moving up and down vertically along said first rail;   a rotary dampener coupled to said first rail and including a wheel adapted to engage said rack, said rotary dampener for dampening rotation of said wheel such that downward movement of said sliding frame is dampened;   a latching mechanism for latching said sliding frame and including a handle that is moved to engage and disengage said latching mechanism; and   a flat panel display including a housing, a display screen, and electronic circuits, said display screen and said electronic circuits disposed within said housing, said electronic circuits operable to display images on said display screen, said flat panel display rotatably coupled to said sliding frame wherein said flat panel display is adapted to be tilted in a plurality of degrees of freedom.   
     
     
       2. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising a hinge, coupled to said flat panel display and coupled to said sliding flame, said hinge for rotating said flat panel display relative to said sliding frame. 
     
     
       3. The display assembly of claim 2 wherein said hinge further comprises a dampened hinge for resisting movement wherein said hinge moves when a predetermined amount of manual force is applied to said flat panel display and wherein said hinge holds said flat panel display in place when manual force is not being applied to said flat panel display. 
     
     
       4. The display assembly of claim 3 wherein said hinge further comprises a dampened hinge that is movable so as to allow said flat panel display to tilt within a predetermined range, said hinge coupled to said flat panel display and coupled to said sliding frame such that said flat panel display is adapted to tilt backwards three quarters of said predetermined range from vertical and tilt forward one quarter of said predetermined range from vertical. 
     
     
       5. The display assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second rail disposed vertically and coupled to said base, said sliding housing for moving along said second rail such that said sliding housing moves along said first rail and along said second rail. 
     
     
       6. The display assembly of claim 5 wherein said second rail has a plurality of openings formed therein that extend vertically, said latching mechanism further comprising a latch arm having a latch pin extending therefrom, said latch arm pivotally coupled to said sliding frame, said handle pivotally coupled to said sliding frame, said handle coupled to said latch arm such that, upon the movement of said handle, said latch arm pivots to selectively engage and disengage said latch pin with ones of said plurality of openings in said second rail. 
     
     
       7. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein said flat panel display couples to said sliding frame such that said flat panel display is readily attached to and detached from said sliding frame. 
     
     
       8. The display assembly of claim 7 wherein said flat panel display couples to said sliding frame such that said flat panel display is off center relative to the center of said flat panel display. 
     
     
       9. The display assembly of claim 6 further comprising a first cover and a second cover, said first cover disposed around said base and said second cover disposed to enclose said sliding frame, said first rail, and said second rail therewithin, wherein said first cover is coupled to said second cover. 
     
     
       10. The display assembly of claim 9 wherein said flat panel display is a liquid crystal display device. 
     
     
       11. A display assembly comprising: a flat panel display including a housing, a display screen, and electronic circuits, said flat panel display having a centerline that extends vertically therethrough, said display screen and said electronic circuits disposed within said housing, said electronic circuits operable to display images on said display screen; and   a dampened hinge coupled to said flat panel display such that said dampened hinge is offset from said centerline of said flat panel display, said dampened hinge coupled to a bracket, said dampened hinge for rotating such that said flat panel display rotates relative to said bracket when a predetermined amount of force is applied to said flat panel display.   
     
     
       12. The display assembly of claim 11 wherein said bracket has a plurality of openings formed proximate one end thereof adapted to receive a plurality of screws such that said bracket can be easily coupled to a display stand and coupled to an arm assembly by disposing a plurality of screws through said plurality of openings in said bracket, said bracket easily uncoupled from a display stand and uncoupled from an arm assembly by the removal of said plurality of screws. 
     
     
       13. The display assembly of claim 11 further comprising: a mounting region disposed on the rear of said flat panel display, said mounting region including a plurality of openings, said openings adapted to receive screws.   
     
     
       14. The display assembly of claim 13 wherein said flat panel display is a liquid crystal display device. 
     
     
       15. A display assembly comprising: a first rail disposed vertically;   a second rail disposed vertically and having a plurality of openings disposed therein, said openings extending vertically along a portion of said second rail;   a base coupled to said first rail and coupled to said second rail for supporting said first rail and said second rail;   a sliding frame disposed around said first rail and around said second rail, said sliding frame having a rack disposed thereon extending vertically, said sliding frame for moving up and down vertically along said first rail and said second rail;   a rotary dampener coupled to said first rail and including a wheel adapted to engage said rack, said rotary dampener for dampening rotation of said wheel such that downward movement of said sliding frame is dampened;   a latching mechanism including a latch pin and a handle, said latching mechanism for selectively latching said sliding frame to said second rail by selectively engaging ones of said plurality of openings disposed in said second rail upon the movement of said handle; and   a flat panel display including a housing, a display screen, and electronic circuits, said display screen and said electronic circuits disposed within said housing and wherein said flat panel display is rotatably coupled to said sliding frame such that said flat panel display is adapted to be moved up and down.   
     
     
       16. The display assembly of claim 15 wherein said hinge further comprises a dampened hinge for resisting movement wherein said hinge moves when a predetermined amount of manual force is applied to said flat panel display and wherein said hinge holds said flat panel display in place when manual force is not being applied to said flat panel display. 
     
     
       17. The display assembly of claim 15 wherein said hinge further comprises a dampened hinge that is movable so as to allow said flat panel display to tilt within a predetermined range, said hinge coupled to said flat panel display and coupled to said sliding frame such that said flat panel display is adapted to tilt backwards three quarters of said predetermined range from vertical and tilt forward one quarter of said predetermined range from vertical. 
     
     
       18. The display assembly of claim 17 wherein said hinge is movable so as to allow said flat panel display to tilt within a twenty degree range, said hinge coupled to said flat panel display and coupled to said sliding frame such that said flat panel display is adapted to tilt backwards 15 degrees from vertical and tilt forward 5 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
       19. The display assembly of claim 15 further comprising a bracket coupled to said hinge and extending from said hinge, said bracket adapted to be removably coupled to said sliding frame such that said flat panel display can be readily attached and removed. 
     
     
       20. The display assembly of claim 19 wherein said flat panel display has a centerline running vertically therethrough and a right side and a left side, said hinge coupled to said display such that said hinge is off-center relative to said centerline of said display. 
     
     
       21. The display assembly of claim 20 further comprising: a first cover disposed around said base; and   a second cover disposed so as to enclose said sliding frame, said first rail, and said second rail therewithin, said second cover coupled to said first cover.   
     
     
       22. The display assembly of claim 19 further comprising: an angled protrusion coupled to said base and adapted to receive cables, said angled protrusion allowing cables to freely slide up and down as said display is moved.   
     
     
       23. The display assembly of claim 21 further comprising: a mounting region formed in said housing, said mounting region including a plurality of openings adapted to receive screws such that said display can be coupled to other structures by coupling such other structures to said mounting region and inserting screws into ones of said plurality of openings.   
     
     
       24. The display assembly of claim 23 wherein said flat panel display is a liquid crystal display device.